Democratic Rep. Katie Porter wore a Batgirl costume to Congress for Halloween, and conservatives mocked her ruthlessly.
In a series of tweets, the National Republican Congressional Committee shared photos of Porter in the tight-fitting spandex outfit — complete with cape and mask. The group slammed the congresswoman for “prancing around dressed as Batman” on the day House Democrats voted on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
“This is how seriously these clowns are taking impeachment,” the NRCC said.
As House Democrats prepare to officially blow up their Majority with impeachment, @RepKatiePorter is prancing around dressed as Batman.
This is how seriously these clowns are taking impeachment. #CA45 https://t.co/5MtDwuoP0J pic.twitter.com/IGURqGViMl
— NRCC (@NRCC) October 31, 2019
This is @RepKatiePorter, she represents you in Congress, this is how she arrived to Congress today. pic.twitter.com/N0659Pfi68
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 31, 2019
Conservative Twitter personality Comfortably Smug relentlessly trolled Porter for hours, at one point sharing a video of her being confronted on the way into the restroom.
“Does Alfred get minimum wage?” an unidentified man filming the video asked, as Porter scrambled to close the door behind her. “If you returned the Batmobile, could you play for the Green New Deal?”
Ahahahah the video
"Does Alfred get minimum wage?"
"If you return the batmobile could you pay for the Green New Deal?" pic.twitter.com/4sQuVxAuxw
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 31, 2019
In defense of Katie Porter as Batgirl
Liberals, meanwhile, rushed to Porter’s defense.
The Young Turks’ Hasan Piker told the NRCC to “shut the f— up.”
katie porter is fucking dope shut the fuck up https://t.co/WT9RwSsJpW
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) October 31, 2019
Others defended the Democrat’s choice of attire as holiday-appropriate. Some accused her critics of misgendering her.
https://twitter.com/longwall26/status/1189922646412210176?s=20
The Los Angeles Times’ Sarah Wire assured her followers that Porter did not wear the superhero costume to vote.
Rep. Katie Porter was pictured wearing a Bat Girl costume on the Hill this morning. The NRCC speculated she would wear it to votes.
I can confirm Porter changed her clothes before voting. https://t.co/er41GnzrnG
— Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) October 31, 2019
However, Washington Post congressional reporter Mike DeBonis caught Porter en route to doing just that. And photographic evidence abounded.
MORE: White House Responds to ‘Unhinged’ Nancy Pelosi on Impeachment: You’re ‘Obsessed’ With Trump
According to DeBonis, when he showed Porter the NRCC’s takedown of her costume, the congresswoman protested: “Batgirl. It’s not Batman. It’s Batgirl.”
>@RepKatiePorter just walked in to vote wearing perfectly acceptable professional clothing. Showed this to her and clarified: "Batgirl. It's not Batman. It's Batgirl." pic.twitter.com/lWrzL7FRQz
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) October 31, 2019
Porter joined all but two Democrats I’m voting for the resolution to set the ground rules for the impeachment inquiry. Zero Republicans joined them. The historic measure passed by a vote of 232 to 196.